General Information for Importing Animal and Biological Products

CONTENTS

• How to apply for a permit to import
• Applying for equivalence
• Importer’s responsibilities
• General Documentation
• OIE links
• Country approval process
• Countries recognised by MAF as free from Foot and Mouth Disease
• Definitions
• Contact details

This general information is provided to assist importers. It should be read in conjunction with the import health standard (the “standard”) and the specific guidance document for the animal or biological product being imported, to ensure that all requirements of the standard are fully understood. Importers are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with this general information, the guidance document and the associated standard prior to importation and to seek MAF guidance if they are unclear on any part.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO IMPORT

Where a permit to import is required application forms can be obtained from: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/imports/animals/forms

For permit processing please allow a minimum of 10 working days (for animal products) and 20 working days (for biological products) once all required documents have been received.

Submit your application by email, post or fax. Permits will be sent to you electronically.

MAF Animal Imports
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Phone +64 4 894 0100 from overseas
Or 0800 008 333 in New Zealand
Fax +64 4 894 0733
animalimports@maf.govt.nz

APPLYING FOR EQUIVALENCE

The exporting country’s Competent Authority may request MAF to approve a method, system or process that can be shown to achieve the biosecurity requirements of the standard.

Equivalence requests must be lodged on an equivalence request form. This form is available by contacting animalimports@maf.govt.nz

IMPORTER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act all costs involved with documentation, transport, storage and obtaining a biosecurity clearance must be covered by the importer or agent.
• The feeding of ruminant protein in any form, composition or admixture to ruminants (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and alpacas) is prohibited under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999.
• Products containing ruminant protein, or any material from premises that render, produce or utilise ruminant protein, must not be sent for further processing to any premises where feed suitable for ruminants is produced under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999. Consignments containing ruminant protein, or any material from premises that render, produce or utilise ruminant protein, must be labelled in accordance with clause 14(c)(ii) of the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999.
• Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human consumption must comply with the Food Act 1981. These requirements are independent of the import health standard requirements and are managed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). Importers are advised to consult the NZFSA website: http://www.maf.govt.nz/food-safety or contact NZFSA by email: import.systems@maf.govt.nz.
• Once the consignment has been given biosecurity clearance into New Zealand, it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure (where relevant) that the consignment complies with the Animal Products Act 1999, especially if it is: returned New Zealand product; product entering operations also used for the export of animal products; or if it is to be re-exported. Information about these requirements can be obtained from the NZFSA website or by contacting the local NZFSA Verification Agency office. Certification and other official assurance requirements are available from NZFSA.
• NZFSA has import procedures to manage the risks to public health from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in food for human consumption. A country must be categorised according to its BSE risk status before it can export commercial bovine meat products to New Zealand. Importers are advised to consult the NZFSA website to check which countries can export bovine products to New Zealand and the requirements that apply to those countries.
• The product must be accompanied by a permit to export where required by the legislation of the country of origin and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The importer is advised to clarify the status of the species of origin of animal products in relation to international agreements on their trade, prior to export. Material arriving in New Zealand without a permit to export may be subject to seizure by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
• The Customs Import Prohibition (Trout) Order 2000, administered by the New Zealand Customs Service, prohibits the importation of trout and trout products in quantities exceeding 10 kilograms, or in quantities of less than 10 kilograms if the goods are intended for sale except with the consent of, and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Minister of Conservation. Any consignment may be subject to inspection by an authorised person under the Customs and Excise Act 1996.
• Any substance, mixture of substances, or biological compound, used or intended for use in the direct management of plants and animals, or to be applied to the land, place, or water on or in which the plants and animals are managed, needs to be considered under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997. Products must either have a Class Determination Letter, or if required, be registered with the ACVM group. For more information, visit the website below: http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/industry/acvm/index.htm
• Wood packaging must meet the requirements of the New Zealand wood packaging material Import health standard: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/forests/standards/non-viable-forest-produce/wood-packaging-ihs.htm

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

• Some goods require special documentation signed by the exporting country to show that the goods meet all MAF’s requirements. Documentation can include: permits to import, manufacturer’s declarations, veterinary certificates, etc. These are defined below.
• You need to read the specific Import health standard for the goods you intend to import to find out what documentation is required. All documentation must be original (unless otherwise specified) clearly legible, and be in English or have an English translation.
• Importers are duty-bound to provide true and accurate information. It is an offence under section 154 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 to provide substantially false or misleading information. Penalties for such offences range from fines to imprisonment.
• Importers may also be required to produce documentation relating to the requirements for importing food under the Food Act and requirements under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), administered by the Department of Conservation.

OIE LINKS

• The Terrestrial Animal health Code is available online and can be accessed at the following link: Access online: OIE - World Organisation for Animal Health
• The Aquatic Animal Health Code is available online and can be accessed at the following link: http://www.oie.int/international-standard-setting/aquatic-code/access-online/

COUNTRY APPROVAL PROCESS

Some import health standards only allow for products to be imported from approved or specified countries. Where this is the case MAF and the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country will negotiate the content of the veterinary certificate to determine how the level of risk management specified by the commodity’s import health standard will be achieved, taking into account:

• The verifiable health status of the exporting country/zone/compartment; and
• The national systems, legislation and standards in the exporting country for regulatory oversight of the industry; and
• The capabilities and preferences of the exporting country’s Veterinary Authority.

Upon conclusion of negotiations, country-specific veterinary certificate templates will be included in the specific guidance document to each commodity’s import health standard.

If your country is not on the approved country list which can be found in the guidance document for the standard, your product is not eligible for direct import to New Zealand. In such circumstances importers may submit a request for inclusion of a country or territory in a veterinary certificate. Contact animalimports@maf.govt.nz for further information.

COUNTRIES RECOGNISED BY MAF AS FREE FROM FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

New Zealand, as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), recognises countries or zones as free from Foot and Mouth Disease in accordance with chapter 8.5 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code .

Zone freedom recognition is the same as that published on the OIE website . Users are advised to check the suspension/reinstatement of status webpage in addition to that given above for the most current status.

Should users wish to clarify zones or current status reports contact MAF at animalimports@maf.govt.nz or 0800 008 333.

List of FMD free countries

⁽¹⁾ Excluding Kosovo administered by the United Nations

DEFINITIONS

All definitions used in standards and guidance documents are as per the Biosecurity Act unless explicitly stated in the table below.

CONTACT DETAILS

For all matters relating to the interpretation, review and amendment of this guidance document, please contact:

Animal Imports Group
MAF
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 894 0100 from overseas
Or 0800 008 333 in New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 894 0733
Email: animalimports@maf.govt.nz

Page last updated: 15 April 2011